Where do you hail from and where do you reside?
I currently live in Saddleworth, about 45 minutes north of Manchester, England, and was born close by too.
How did you get into AV?
Like many people it seems, quite by accident. I saw a job advertised that looked interesting, but I didn’t know the industry even existed. I was on gardening leave but undecided, until the then sales director called me and asked me if I wanted to go to Vegas for a show called InfoComm the week after. It was the first major trade show that I had ever visited, and I was hooked from then on. The passion that people displayed for their brands and their products was something that really resonated with me and I realised this is an industry I wanted to be a part of.
What do you do for kicks in your spare time? Any favourite sports teams?
Now being from near Manchester, I’m often asked whether I’m red or blue, but the answer is neither. It’s rugby league and cricket all the way for me. I was brought up playing both sports and continued for as long as I could until after university, when work and “real life” got in the way!
Luckily there are a few great teams in the villages around where I live so it’s easy enough to walk there on a Saturday afternoon and spend a few hours watching the local cricket teams and catch up with some people I played with in the same teams while growing up.
How do you feel the AV industry has fared post-Covid?
It was rocky for a time while everyone adapted to what was the “new normal”, but there were, and continue to be so many other factors ranging from the economy to global conflicts that everything seems to have rolled into one. I think the industry has shown a maturity and resilience that is enviable, and many companies we work with looked after their people well, and are now in a strong position for doing so.
I think the pause also allowed for some breathing space for R&D teams, especially here at Digital Projection. With less projectors going into the field during this period, the team could spend more time working on new cutting-edge technologies such as the Satellite Modular Laser system without the distraction of in-field issues.
What are your thoughts on its future, including potential pinch points?
I’m positive about the future of the industry. It must engage with and attract new, young talent from a wider variety of backgrounds and ideas, but as long as this happens and the current incumbents continue to grow and develop this new cohort, then the industry should stay strong.
How’s business at Digital Projection?
Business is good at the moment and we’re enjoying a period of time where new technology (the Satellite Modular Laser System) is mature, widely accepted and being adopted is some really interesting installations.
Adding to this we have a whole range of integrated projectors that are new to the market, which build upon our current models but boasting a completely new electronics platform that are designed to really simplify the installers and end users life. With more launches to come throughout the year we’re in a strong position regarding our projector line-up.
Any exciting news you’d like to share – forthcoming products/developments etc – and plans for 2024 and beyond?
It’s more of the same – with the new projectors just launched, and new ones on the horizon, we will continue to focus on bringing the best image quality to the market. We are currently also looking at the whole software piece that works alongside our new electronics platform, again with the singular aim of making our users’ lives easier.
